Egypt has eased restrictions on border crossings for pedestrians from the Gaza Strip. Palestinians see it as a big step toward ending a four-year-old blockade that Israel and Egypt have imposed on the enclave.
埃及放宽行人从加沙地带进入埃及的边境管制，结束了以色列和埃及对这块飞地实施的长达四年的封锁，巴勒斯坦人将此视为重大的一步。
A Palestinian border policeman puts a stamp on the passport of Mahmoud al-Hams, a Gaza resident who says he has not left the enclave for years. He is among the first of hundreds who arrived at the Rafah border terminal Saturday before boarding a shuttle bus that would take him past a gate into Egypt.
一名巴勒斯坦边境警察将穆罕默德.汉斯的护照盖了章。汉斯是加沙居民，他说他已经有四年没离开过这块飞地了。他是星期六首先抵达拉法边境站的几百人中之一，之后他搭上接驳车，接驳车将他载过边境大门进入埃及。
He says he is very happy that he can finally go out and see the world.
他说，他非常高兴终于能出来看看世界了。
Egypt began easing restrictions on this border crossing earlier this year following the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, opening this crossing sporadically for those with special permits that were granted on the basis of medical and other needs.
埃及今年早些时候在埃及总统穆巴拉克被赶下台后开始放宽边境管制，不定时开放边境给那些因为医疗或其他需要而获得特殊许可的民众。
Now, the crossing is supposed to have regular hours and be open generally to anyone other than men between the ages of 18 and 40.
现在，过境将会有固定时段，将开放给除了18岁到40岁男子的一般大众。
Those crossing on Saturday hailed the loosening of restrictions as a relief after years of a closure imposed by Israel and Egypt. Gaza resident Sabri Matar is going to Egypt for medical treatment. He thanks the Egyptians for understanding the suffering of the Palestinians and opening this crossing.
在以色列和埃及关闭多年后，星期六过境的这些人赞扬管制松绑让他们宽慰。加沙居民马塔里要去埃及接受治疗。他感谢埃及体会到巴勒斯坦人民受的苦，并开放过境。
Egypt under Mubarak cooperated with Israel's closure of the Gaza Strip following a violent takeover of Gaza by the militant Islamist group Hamas. The group, considered a terrorist organization by the United States and others, was also viewed as a threat by Mubarak.
穆巴拉克时期的埃及和以色列合作关闭了加沙地带，这是由于伊斯兰武装团体哈马斯暴力占据了加沙地带。
Egypt decided to ease restrictions after Hamas recently signed a reconciliation agreement with the rival Fatah faction that runs the West Bank.
哈马斯最近和统治约旦河西岸的对手法塔赫签署了一项和解协议，埃及因而决定放宽管制。
Hamas sees the interim government that replaced Mubarak as more sympathetic to the Palestinians' cause, and on Saturday praised Egyptians' decision to loosen restrictions.
哈马斯认为取代穆巴拉克的埃及临时政府较同情巴勒斯坦。哈马斯在星期六称赞了埃及放宽管制的决定。
Speaking at the border crossing Saturday, Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas official, called it the start of a new era of freedom for the people of Gaza and of closer cooperation with Egypt.
哈马斯高级官员哈马德星期六说，这开启了加沙人民新的自由时代以及与埃及更紧密的合作。
"The crossing is a fruit [of] the Egyptian revolution and a fruit of the reconciliation. I hope the opening of the crossing will support the reconciliation, first of all, and support the relationship between the Egyptians and the Palestinians,” he said.
他说，“过境是埃及革命与和解的产物。我希望开放边境首先能帮助和解，然后支持埃及和巴勒斯坦间的关系。”
Israel is watching events on the border with concern. Israeli officials have warned that Egypt's loosening of restrictions could open the way for terrorists and arms smugglers.
以色列抱着忧虑观察过境活动。以色列官员警告埃及放宽管制可能为恐怖分子和走私武器犯敞开大门。
The loosening of the border crossing restrictions applies only to pedestrians. Along with Israel, Egypt continues to restrict the passage of most goods and vehicles into the Gaza Strip. |